Chainsaw Man - The Movie: Reze Arc

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Chainsaw Man - The Movie: Reze Arc
Starring Kikunosuke Toya, Reina Ueda, Fairouz Ai, Tomori Kusunoki
Directed by Tatsuya Yoshihara

2025 has been the year television anime has exploded into the big screen, with "Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle" breaking records worldwide (especially in its home country of Japan), and the arrival of the new "Jujutsu Kaisen: Execution" in December. Between the two there's "Chainsaw Man - The Movie: Reze Arc" which did something comparable to "Demon Slayer" - get a near-perfect Rotten Tomatoes rating and brought fans of the franchise and newcomers alike to the theater to appreciate the grandiose story on the big screen. Coming from someone of the latter, I didn't have a deep understanding of the show beforehand, but it didn't take long to catch on what was happening, and the beautiful visionary work I was beholding. 

Denji (Kikunosuke Toya) is a sixteen-year-old orphan who was betrayed and left for dead, but his loyal Chainsaw Devil pet Pochita sacrificed himself to merge with his heart, turning Denji into the Chainsaw Man - with the ability to transform into a half-man, half-demon hybrid with chainsaws growing out of his body. Demons, corrupt politicians and every nefarious being in Tokyo wants Denji's literal heart, but as a sixteen-year-old, all Denji wants to do is live a good life, and tries to find love first with Makima (Tomori Kusunoki), the woman who first recruited him, and develops strong feelings for her. Then, one day, he runs into the mysterious Reze (Reina Ueda) and instantly falls for her as well - but he soon learns there's more to Reze than meets the eye, which could bring about the destruction of Tokyo and his very heart as well.

After seeing both the "Demon Slayer" and "Chainsaw Man" movies, I'm more inclined to actually watch the anime shows on television, but then I learn how long each of them is ("One Piece" is currently over 1,400 episodes) and I need to find the time to do that. Time I never have. So I'll settle for the movies right now, even though my appetite is whet for it. The animation is beautiful (although I heard it's different from the show's first season), the story is compelling, layered, and surprisingly dark, and the action is palpable, exciting, and thrilling. Throw in a fantastic score and you've got a great anime film that everyone can find something to appreciate. 

Unlike "Demon Slayer," "Chainsaw Man" isn't wall-to-wall action, but rather a coming-of-age tale centering on Denji's quest to find love in all the wrong places. He first finds it in Makima, but she has her own purposes for drawing Denji into her web as well as using him for her own desires. She takes him out to the movies for an all-day event (honestly something I'd love to do) and Denji admits to her that he doesn't think he has a heart - which, technically, he doesn't, as Pochita (whom I would've loved to see) is his heart - but she convinces him otherwise. Smitten and obsessed, Denji feels there's no other girl for her until he meets Reze in a phone booth during a torrential downpour. As with any other sixteen-year-old, his hormones do the talking and he finds himself spending more time with Reze, who shows him the affection he craves.

Things go from bad to worse for Denji when a Bomb Demon invades Tokyo, threatening to blow up the entire city and everyone Denji loves, along with its desire to capture his literal heart. He turns into the Chainsaw Man, but is ill-equipped against an experienced demon who will stop at nothing to end his existence. This is where the action amps up to exponential levels, giving a visual feast for the eyes that doesn't let up.

Although you probably get more out of the movie after watching the show (like my friend who I saw it with did), there's a lot to appreciate about "Chainsaw Man - The Movie" even if you never watched an episode. Thrilling visuals, a heartfelt coming-of-age tale, and a character's start of his own hero's journey make for a compelling watch that will make you not want to blink, or you'll miss the spectacle in front of you.

The Score: A+

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